MeltingMirror Cosplay

  • Home
  • Costumes
  • Upcoming
  • CosBlog
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • Costumes
  • Upcoming
  • CosBlog
  • Contact Me

2023 Cosplay year in review

1/1/2024

1 Comment

 
Picture
Anasui - Jojo   |   Jolteon - Pokémon   |   Salty Vanilla - Sakizou
2023 was a slow crafting year for me. I typically produce 6-7 costumes each year and I made so few costumes in comparison. I need to remind myself not to be discouraged by it since I was dealing with a lot of life changes that slowed me down. There will always be next year to work on new projects and attend other conventions. I had a great time at the many convention I attended and I'm proud of the costume I did finish. Salty Vanilla has been a work in progress for years so I'm happy to finally wrap it up. Anasui is was a fun costume to wear since I love crazy Jojo designs. And Pokémon design are always a fun creative outlet.
So let's go over my 2023 cosplay year. 

What I learned

  1. Shiny spandex can shed glitter. After wearing Anasui, my body is covered with a fine glitter from the finish of the fabric. I was puzzled when I was changing out of the costume in my hotel room.
  2. When working with a fabric or material with large gaps (mesh, fishnet etc.) It's important to reinforce seams. Trying to match the pieces together will be difficult so create seams using the same or another fabric, and attach the pieces to that instead of trying to line up the strips of fabric.
  3. When using a fabric with large holes or gaps (like the fishnet for Anasui) following a pattern to assemble your pieces will make your life easier. The principle is the same as regular fabric.
  4. Spandex is very uncooperative when using a loop turner. I tried to make tubes/straps of the spandex and it took so long that I gave up on it.
  5. Choose peace and ease. Loop turning dozens of spandex tubes for Anasui's top was tedious, so opted to fold the fabric and zig zag stitch it to make my life easier. It is not as clean looking but you cannot tell in the photos anyway.
  6. I can walk and shoot on worn out metal stub heels if I need to.
  7. Use heel protectors for cheap heels because they will make them last longer and they are great for adding more height when the heel is a little shorter than what the shoe/platform needs.
  8. Try not to stretch stretchy fabrics while sewing seams or you might end up with bunching/gathering at the seams.
  9. You want to avoid any mistakes while sewing mesh because it is a nightmare to rip the seams apart.
  10. When working on a headband or headpiece, make sure the item is on a wig head or something similar to your head. When you attach items/décor it needs to be able to withstand the change in size when you stretch it to put it on or take it off.
  11. You will need more rhinestones. Whatever estimate you have for making a costume, you will likely need more. If you are working with smaller sizes you will need to add more for them to be visible on your costume.
  12. You can make a custom mermaid style hoop skirt by gutting a regular hoopskirt and attaching it with straps to a belt 
  13. Pipe insulation makes for a uniform and lightweight stuffing for fur trim (See the bottom of my Salty Vanilla costume)
  14. Keep your scraps of fabric to use as stuffing for other projects. I found it useful for filling the fur elements on my Salty Vanilla in addition to using poly fill. It's also cost effective since you need less poly fill overall.
  15. Make costume pieces easily removable if you know they will get dirty easily. The fur trim at the base of Salty Vanilla's skirt I knew was going to be a dirt magnet. I attached it with hand stitching so I could easily unpick the seams when I returned home from wearing it to a convention.  The rest of the dress cannot be thrown into a the wash and a machine stitch would have taken so much longer to take apart.
  16. Deviate from the original design if it doesn't work for you. I didn't have the jail text on the back of my Anasui because I didn't like the look of it plus it would be hidden behind the wig anyway. Also Salty Vanilla was supposed to have vanilla pieces at the base of the skirt but chunks of brown would have looked really weird on the costume in real life vs the drawing. 
Picture
Photo by KameraNinja at Katsucon 2023

Most expensive costume

Salty Vanilla cost around $250-300. I was not great at tracking my expenses this year. This costume has a lot of fabric for the outer layers plus undergarments for structure underneath. Faux fur is also expensive and counting all the little things (rhinestones, ribbons, lace, etc.), it can add up. 
Picture
Photo by LXE Photo at Otakuthon 2023

Least Expensive costume

It's hard to gauge the price for Jolteon since I used a few things I had lying around. Easily the most expensive part of this was the wig at $40. The fabric was heavily discounted from Fabricville at $4 per metre. All of the sparkle comes from AliExpress, so it was very affordable.

Favourite cosplay - Anasui

Jojo has some fun designs and the thought that this is supposed to be a man's prison outfit just brightens my day. Posing in a Jojo costumes is an elite experience since nothing is too over the top so you can be a little wild and experimental with it. I highly recommend it.
Picture
Photo by KameraNinja at Otakuthon 2023

Convention recap

I started off the year strong with Katsucon. It was nice seeing everyone after a few years of skipping it due to the pandemic and travel restrictions. It's busy as always but manageable if you go in expecting crowds.

I was a guest at Anime Detour and I had such a great experience. It was my first time at a midwest con. It was such a warm and friendly environment. I highly recommend you attend if you can.

After years and years of attending Anime North in Toronto/Mississauga, I got to be a guest in 2023. It felt like a real "I've made it" moment and something I would have never imagine for myself when I first attended back in 2006..

I was also a guest at East Coast Comic Expo in Moncton, NB. It was a great experience to see the cosplay scene in the east coast, which is a region I don't get to travel to all to often. I also stuffed my face with sea food the whole time I was there.
​

I wrapped up my convention season with Otakuthon, which is a staple of my yearly con schedule. It was a little hectic but a good time. 
Picture
Some closet cosplays / makeup looks of 2023

Forward to 2024

Picture
I don't have any big plans for 2024 although I might try to compete again if I can get a competition ready costume done in time for certain events. I'm also looking forward to working on more Pokémon designs. I'm continuing my work on my set of Eeveelutions using mesh fabrics and lots of rhinestones. I also plan to return to one of my favourite themes, Evil Queens.
2024 will be a year of several cosplay milestones for myself so I'm hoping to post more content looking back on my many years of cosplay.
I'll see you around at conventions or online!

1 Comment

2022 Cosplay Year in Review

22/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture

King of Swords | Umbreon | Sylveon | Morana | Risotto | Raihan

It's been a productive year. I managed to complete a few costumes on my long "to be completed" list and I got creative with Pokémon costumes again. 2022 was my return to conventions after pandemic lockdowns. I'm still adjusting to post-lockdown conventions while trying to stay safe and dodge covid for another year. Luckily, I was never the type to share drinks and I always had hand sanitizer with me pre-pandemic, so I was going in with good habits. I never want con plague, not then and definitely not now. It was nice to be back and seeing friends I haven't seen in years. Also, it was a shock to be assaulted by con funk after being spared for so long.
Picture
Sylveon cosplay | Photo by KevinUncaged

What I learned

  1. Flash tape was my MVP this year keeping the girls secured and hidden. I've been using athletic tape and using Vaseline or cream to protect sensitive parts
  2. Pur cosmetics lash glue is great for glueing stuff to your body. My gold foil would not budge on my King of Sword cosplay
  3. Patience can save you money: I was so eager to make my Raihan cosplay that I started accumulating materials as the game released. I'm a slow crafter and before I could even finish 30% of the costume there were decent quality full costumes for less that the material costs I've already incurred. I love my costume and it's of a higher quality but I should have waited to buy it and save myself the time.
  4. Persistence pays off: If you are dedicated to a project it's safe to wait for the right materials. I've been on the hunt for striped fabric in the right width for Risotto for months and the one I settled on was perfect.  Similarly, for Morana, I could not be bothered to make her white dress since it's a pretty standard look. I managed to find a Victorian inspired cotton dress on AliExpress. It was cheaper than buying the materials myself and I didn't have to put in the labour.
  5. Keep your reference photo handy, because your mind can play some tricks on you. Refer to it frequently to avoid mistakes.
  6. A halo crown + beads is an easy way to add elegance to a costume
  7. Consider painting your appliqués to get the desired colour for your project. You can also dye them and of course add beads and rhinestones for extra pizzazz.
  8. Gathered ultrapreme looks great! It looks so rich and is very soft. I used this for the bottom of Raihan's sweater. 
  9. Saving on HTC vinyl: Typically when you have a vinyl design, you have it cut by a vinyl cutting machine in the shape you need, then you apply it. Raihan's design had mainly straight lines in orange vinyl. Instead of cutting out the design as is, I just cut out strips and applied them as need be. So I was able to do the whole costume with one roll of vinyl and with minimal waste.
  10. Get threading tools (drawstring threaders) to make inserting ribbon, chord, and elastic into fabric channels easier. Ex. like the ribbon in a hoodie
  11. When you wear light-coloured brows (blonde/white/silver) add a dark shadow with eyeshadow so they don't disappear on your face and it softens the looks without them looking too harsh
  12. When sewing a sticky fabric (like vinyl) use wax paper as a protective layer between your fabric and your foot to glide the fabric through without it catching. This also works with paper towels but wax paper is fairly transparent so you can see what you are doing.
  13. When working with spherical props consider flattening a side or hollowing it out attach it to other items. A flat or hollow area give you more surface to work it. I had to hollow out some of the foam balls I used for Risotto's hat otherwise they hung awkwardly and ends of the fabric were visible, which didn't look nice.
Picture
Photo Paul Hillier

Most Expensive - Risotto

Surprisingly this was not too expensive at about $150. Although I wasn't the best of tracking my expenses in the pandemic years. I managed to get a good deal on vinyl from Aliexpress to keep the cost down. The loafers cost as much as the fabric but they are so nice and I wear them all the time.
Picture
Photo Amaleigh Photography

Least Expensive - Umbreon

Sylveon and Umbreon are basically the same price (around $65) but I had to buy more rhinestones and ribbon for Sylveon. Both costumes were an Aliexpress special: fabric, appliques, halos, and rhinestones. I also used a lot of accessories I had lying around. Check out those bracelets meant for a Riju (Breath of the Wild) cosplay that never happened.

Favourite Cosplay - Risotto

I don't really have a favourite this year but if I have to pick, I'll pick a Jojo costume. I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth the sewing went considering vinyl is such a finnicky fabric. The hat is fun and was an interesting puzzle to pattern out. I managed to get the stripes on the pants to align neatly. How satisfying! And the shoes are cool and comfortable. Plus any excuse to do crazy poses is a good one.
Picture
Risotto cosplay | Photo Paul Hillier

Return of the Cons

I was fortunate enough to go to four conventions this year: Yeticon, Anime North, Otakuthon, and Capital City Comic Con.

I had a relaxing time as per usual at Yeticon. The scenery is always beautiful but the wind was miserable this year and made it so cold, which was a pain since I packed mainly light costumes. It was the opposite at Anime North where it was horribly hot. Thankfully my Eeveelution costumes are as light as can be. They are probably the most exposed costumes I have. Although I was a little nervous wearing them out, I had no regrets once I step outside in the hot weather. Judging the masquerade was like riding a bike, it was nice to be back at it and seeing people's creative work.

I had a good time at Otakuthon, although I was trying to avoid the worst of the crowds. The fun I had that weekend was doing things around the city (going to the spa, checking out an art show) since it's been years since I could visit. Lastly, Capital City Comic Con, was my return to guesting at a convention. It was a great event and everyone was so friendly. Getting back to the west coast (Victoria) made me really miss travelling. There are so many beautiful sights to see on Vancouver island and Lichon Photography showed me around. I got to see a few small waterfalls and of course we took photos in the woods.
Picture
Juan de Fuca trail on Vancouver island

Forward to 2023

Picture
I'm  being cautiously optimistic for 2023. Here's hoping I can make another 5-6 costumes and maybe clear some other old costumes on my "to be completed" list like this Sakizo costume I've been working on since 2019. You can also expect more Jojo costumes and pokemon gijinkas.

Besides that, I'm mainly sticking to projects I can make with my fabric stash. After moving recently, I realized how much stuff I have and I need to reduce the amount before committing to new things. Also I don't really have place for any new costumes, which means I will be getting rid of some older ones to make room. 

I hope you all had a great 2022 and I'll see you in the new year.
​XOXO

0 Comments

Katsucon 2019

19/2/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
It was my sixth year at Katsu and it had it different vibe than usual. It felt less crowded, probably thanks to the new badge policy. It also gave me a nostalgic con vibe thanks to hanging out with friends and meeting many new people. As always, I didn't run into many of the people I knew were there over the weekend, a fact of life for modern cons. Luckily I was able to have quite a few good chats with some old friends that live far away and I miss them already.

​​Another observation, Katsu always had a party vibe to it, but I feel as if it is becoming Dragoncon north with the partying (congregation of drunk people) in the lobby of the Gaylord which is leading to many memorable moments. See the DVD X It crossover, Mothman, or the Danny Devito shrine.

I took it relatively easy over the weekend. I managed to finish all of my costume in time with minimal hotel finishing touches (adding a handful of rhinestones to my dress and sewing down some buttons). I kept it to 3 costumes for the weekend, 1 per day and I was maybe in them for maximum 4 hours each. I find this give me more time to enjoy the con, see the sights, and relax. I'm technically there on vacation so it should feel like it by the end of each day.

Picture
Some highlights of the weekend:
  • My fastest experiences of going through airport security, both there and back
  • Staring at amazing costumes
  • Offering apples to Snow Whites when dressed Evil Queen Regina
  • Quality friend time
  • Warm reception for my new costumes - thank you for your kind words
  • Cosplayhipster's makeshift photoshoot set on a bed
  • Exploring the MGM and it's cool photoshoot locations
  • The nice weather, yet spending the bulk of my time shooting outside on one of the colder days
  • Forgetting my Atalanta ears at home and managing to find a near perfect substitute in the Artist Alley. Thanks Cabbits!

What were your highlights this year? Any memorable costumes?
0 Comments

Katsucon 2018

20/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
With Jayuna and Jazzmin
Katsucon is a yearly tradition for me where I look forward to seeing amazing work while also catching up with friends. With those two things in mind my mission was accomplished. I was really worried I wouldn't finish my projects in time but luckily I was able to pulled through without pushing myself too hard. The grind to finish Katsu costumes, aka "Katsucrunch", got the best of many people this year, which serves as a good reminder to take a step back and reevaluate things with high stress projects. I learned that lesson the hard way at WCS.

I have to give special thanks to a few people who made this weekend great. First off to Kurumasha for helping me finish my projects and lending me her wig. Second to VickybunnyAngel for being an amazing roomie, helping me in and out of costume, and also helping with makeup. Third to Jayuna, for helping me out of costume when Vicky wasn't there. Lastly to everyone who I caught up with ans shot with over the weekend. Thank you for your time and sharing it with me.

​All right let's dive in!

Thursday

Picture
I flew in on Thursday morning and made friendly with some local cosplayers on the same flight. We split an Uber to the hotel and I totally felt like a con mom asking them about what they planned to do for the first year there.

When I arrived, I picked up some supplies for the weekend from CVS then got ready to shoot my Spring Sawsbuck that afternoon. I shot with White Specs and Vicissijuice back to back. It was my first time shooting with her and I look forward to seeing the photos. Afterwards I immediately took a nap because I was very tired. After sleeping for 2 hours, I got up and worked on finishing up Lilith while watching the Olympics. Figure skating woot woot!

Friday

I was pretty certain that I would't finish this costume in time but I was able to wear Lilith on Friday of the event. I was suppposed to finish this costume for Katsu of last year but I just kept putting it off. There are a few details that still need to be added or improved but I am still happy with what I got to wear for a few hours.

A special thanks goes to Vickybunnyangel for helping me get into this and pinning down my wing harness and also to Jayuna for helping me out of the costume. I was resigned to the fact that I would have lie down on the bed for close to hour waiting for a roommate to return to help.

I got to shoot with MH photography by the water before the rain came in. I had a "great" time balancing my long nails (not pictured but you'll see eventually) for pictures but they were worth the hassle because they add an extra layer of crazy detail to the costume.
Picture
Photo by Martin Wong
Picture
The rest of the day was easy going. My roomies and I went for dinner at Elevation Burger then we went to Felt for a party at the MGM. It was a nice change of pace from the hustle that happens at Pose. I didn't end up going there this year since the lines were horrendous.

It was a great opportunity to catch up with friends without having to circle the bar all night trying to find them. Also two couples got engaged, how exciting!

Side note: I got this new blue dress and it is a nightmare to get in and out of. It's a snug fit with minimal stretch and I wish it had a zipper. Luckily I wasn't stuck sleeping in it overnight.

Saturday

The big day. I decided to wear something somewhat comfortable and that was Storm. After years of putting this costume on the back burner she is finally done! She got such a warm welcome at the event even though I got blamed for the snow that arrived that day.

I did a shoot with U.V. Photography partially outdoors and indoors then I spent the rest of the afternoon meeting up with friends and getting to know new ones around the gazebo. I also shot with Anna Fischer and my god it is magic what she can accomplish with a few lights and gels.

I had another dinner with friends, this time at the Walrus for some delicious seafood. I find this is the best opportunity to catch up with people because the hustle of Katsu can get the best of you. Afterwards I went around the lobby visiting friends and playing more catch up.
Picture

Sunday

Picture
I was pretty tired come Sunday but I still got into Alexandrite. There were so many other gems that it made me so happy. I love to see the different ways people interpreted the wigs and the makeup. My interpretation requires 3 layers of highlighters. 

I spent most of time hanging out at the gazebo  level and doing the odd shoot here and there. I also got to catch up with Sweet Sensation photo, and I'm curious to see if my over posing worked out. Since it was such a simple costume I figure it was time to whip out the Vogue moves. I also did a brief balcony shoot before I changed out of the costume, which was a first for me.

After saying too many goodbyes I made my way to the airport and after nearly falling asleep at the gate, I made it home in one piece.
All in all I had a good time despite the crowding. Honestly, I expect this every year from Katsu so it was not a surprise and honestly I thought it would be worse. I wore my cumbersome outfits on Thursday and Friday to avoid the worst of it. Crowding makes it difficult to get good photos but a little ingenuity, courtesy, and determination goes a long way. I would agree with some friends with the point that some of the usual photoshoot spots are getting overused but I think that is part of the deal when you attend a con several years in a row. However, it's still leaps and bounds better for shoots than conventions held in warehouses every year. I will be returning next year so long as my friends will be there since that is the bulk of the fun for me.

How was your Katsu? Did you run into any issues?
0 Comments

2017 Cosplay Year in Review

24/12/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Primarina at Colossalcon - PhotosNXS
This year was a slow moving one for me. My day job gobbled up more of my time so I didn`t produce as many costumes as I would like (granted I say that every year). I also went to more events that ever, which also ate into my costume making time, but I had a great time exploring new cities and new events. Finally, I wrapped up the year by going on another cosplay adventure into the wilderness. Let`s go through my year in cosplay.

MILESTONES
  • First time being invited to conventions outside of Canada (Anime Matsuri & Mechacon in the US)
  • First Livestreams - Styling Nidalee's Wig & Styling Storm's Wig​
  • I hit 3k on Instagram. Thx!

NOTEWORTHY BLOGS
  • My Cosplay Photoshoot Trip to Kelowna
  • My first time at YetiCon

Costumes

Picture
| Ducklett | Primarina | Pharaoh Nidalee |
| Sawsbuck - Spring - Summer - Fall - Winter |
WHAT I LEARNED
  1. ​Stretch mesh can dye easily
  2. Crinoline on the other hand, does not
  3. Feathers can be dyed with regular dye, you just need more product
  4. Finally, and surprisingly, you can also dye starfish (not for too long or it will deteriorate)
  5. PVC pipe connectors are super useful for props
  6. I may have a fake flower purchasing addiction
  7. Floral wire + florals make for easy headpieces
  8. Get a sturdy headband if you are going to be wearing it often, especially for heapieces
  9. If there is an option to gold leaf something, do it
  10. The answer is more accessories
  11. Organza is a magical material that you can airbrush
  12. Don't be afraid of big false lashes
  13. Fur collars are amazing
  14. I love making headpieces
  15. I also love making my own original designs
  16. Location shoots are the best shoots
  17. I have a surprising tolerance for the cold in the name of photoshoots
Picture
Sharla (2014) shot at Yeticon (2017) with Elysiam Entertainment

Most expensive

Picture
MH Photography
Collectively, all of the Sawsbuck costumes cost $770, which is quite the bargain if you split it four ways. I re-purpose certain items throughout the designs, such as the corset. Of the four designs, the fall one was probably to most expensive since I had to buy some of the flowers at a slight discount (instead of a deep one) due to timing.

Least Expensive

Picture
U.V. Photography
I spent a whole $85 on Ducklett and most of the money went into the trims and appliques. It's such a nice and simple costume that is easy to wear. I don't get to use sequins often in my costume so this was a treat, also I got to use all that feather knowledge I built up over the years to make this beautiful skirt.
Picture
Swanna (2016) shot at Lake Chilliwack with Lichon Photography

Favourite Costume

Picture
Erik Paredes Photography

Favourite Prop

Picture
Sometime I can surprise myself with my practicality. Sawsbuck's headpiece has removable/replaceable flowers and antlers,  interchangeable floral bases, and easily slips on top of wig

The Sawsbuck collection of costumes hit a sweet spot for me: I got to rekindle my love of design, I got to make a bunch of fun capes, I fell in love again with crafting headpieces, I got to embellish the crap out of each design, I had fun shopping for complimentary accessories, I got to be thrifty by reusing certain parts of the costume, I improved my corset making skills, and I got to play around with some intense makeup. All-in-all good stuff, 10 out of 10 will do again.
Picture
I brought Queen Beryl with me for my Kelowna trip. Fun fact - the ground is pure mud. Photo by Lichon Photography.

Events

Picture
This banner at Anime Matsuri was insane
So Many Conventions! I think this was my busiest year yet, especially since I had to travel further for these events. Here`s where I`ve been:
  1. Katsucon - Washington DC - Convention Report
  2. Anime Matsuri - Houston TX - Convention Report
  3. Costume Con 35 - Mississauga - Con Report
  4. Ottawa ComicCon
  5. Anime North - Toronto - Convention report
  6. Colossalcon - Ohio - Convention report
  7. Yeticon - Blue Mountain - Convention Report
  8. Montreal Comiccon - Convention report
  9. Mechacon - New Orleans - Convention report
  10. Otakuthon - Montreal - Convention report
I also did another cosplay trip out west to visit my friend the super talented Lichon Photography. We shot 5 costumes over 7 days all around Southern BC, mainly Kelowna. It was amazing and the photos are to die for.

I consider myself very fortunate to be able to judge masquerades and to be invited to events, so I would like to thank everyone who put my name forward, those who came out to see me or buy prints. Your support means a lot to me. I`m glad my costumes could bring a little joy to your day. If you would like to see me at an event near you, get in touch with your organizers or contact me.
Picture
NIdalee - Photo by White Specs

Forward to 2018

Picture
Since I have fewer events planned for 2018, hopefully that means I can create more costumes. I have quite a few projects on the go, but the biggest one I hope to finish is Lilith from Trinity Blood. I have also been dragging my feet on a Storm for years that is finally coming together. Hopefully I can knock out some more outstanding projects in 2018.

I have another cosplay photoshoot adventure planned and it is going to be even more intense than the last ones. More details on that to come. The plan is also to produce more regular content from home. I`ll do my best to work some magic.
​
The urge to return to NYC is also strong, the fabric district is calling me, although I`m not sure if I can swing either NYCC or AnimeNYC in 2018.

If you want to know what I`m up to, please check out my Planning page or you can find me posting progress pics on my Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. If you want to support my work, you can buy me Ko-fi. I hope your 2017 went well and see you in 2018!

1 Comment

Mechacon 2017

7/8/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
It was my first time in New Orleans and I didn't know what to expect but Mechacon was amazing!

I arrived in NOLA on Thursday afternoon and settled into my hotel after meeting some staff for dinner. 
Picture

Friday

PicturePhoto by Chinasaur
I brought the sea goddess to Mechacon, and I was happy with how well received Tia Dalma was.

​Friday was busy since I was doing craftsmanship judging for the masquerade for the most of the day. I was amazed at the amount of talent I saw in the cosplay competition. After a few hours of that I went to the opening ceremony with my fellow cosplay guests Chinasaur and Starbuxx. I was really impressed with how well produced the opening videos were for the event in addition to the talent on stage since many of the musical guests preformed throughout the ceremony.

Afterward we had a meet and greet with the guests (ambassadors) and VIP con guests. It made for a great time to meet new people and socialize. It set a great tone for the weekend.
I wrapped up the evening by grabbing dinner at a great Colombian restaurant and calling it an early night.

Saturday

Picture
On Saturday, I wore Kida. Earlier in the day I was judging more entries from the cosplay contest then I got to spend some time at my booth. I met so many interesting and nice people. Thanks again to anyone who stopped by to say hi and buy a print.

Later in the day I got to watch the cosplay competition and boy was it intense. There was a crazy amount of craftsmanship on display and it was hard narrowing down the winners. I'm also used to having lengthy deliberations to determine the awards but we had to pick the winners within 15 minutes! In the end, we came to a consensus and the contestants really put on a good show.

After the con I got to catch up with Hane Cosplay over dinner and frozen rosé. Yum.

Weekend Cosplay Gallery

Sunday & Monday

PictureI'm blue da ba de
Sunday was the most relaxed of the weekend. I was mostly at my table in my Ducklett costume. The AC is not a joke at this con so I was sporting a jacket most of the day. 

I had a great time socializing with the attendees and the other guests in the guest table area. I've got to say that Queen D is a great cosplayer and a joy to be around. I would love to see her MC a Canadian masquerade.

Chinasaur and Starbuxx were lovely and I had a great time hanging out with them over the weekend. Also thanks to Most Flogged for swapping X-men stories and taking me to the aquarium on Monday.

Stay awesome New Orleans!


4 Comments

YetiCon 2017

19/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
It was my first time at Yeticon and it did not disappoint. I decided to go at the last minute and I'm glad I did. It was quite a relaxing event. It was a bit of a downer that there was rain throughout the weekend but otherwise it was fun.

FRIDAY
I drove in with some Ottawa cosplay friends and arrived at around 4pm. It quite the scenic trip, much better than driving to Toronto. I threw on Sharla in a rush and did my makeup in record time. I grabbed my badge at the event, ran into almost all my Toronto cosplay friends, then went straight to a shoot with Anna and Kay. I can't wait to have some good photos of Sharla with her prop. This costumes has been collecting dust for a few years since it doesn't travel easily. Some parts were coming apart since the glue worn down after a few years. After taking off my costume I rode the mountain coaster and hung out with friends for the rest of the day. I took it easy for the rest of the night since it was pouring rain.

Picture
SATURDAY
Despite my best efforts I could not sleep in, so I lounged around my suite with my roommates until around noon when I got dressed in Summer Sawsbuck. I got to shoot some video with Ackson and then did a photoshoot with Anna at the top of the mountain. Even though I doused myself in bug repellent I still end up with 4 mosquito bites.

I got out of costume and was killing time until the pool party except it got cancelled due to thunder, rain, and tornado warnings. Instead I went to go visit friends in their rooms getting drenched by the rain every step of the way then headed to a suite party for the rest of the night,

SUNDAY
There was a forecast of sporadic rain so I decided not to wear Ms. Fortune on Sunday. It was stupidly humid as well so I only imagine all my fake scars would be peeling off within a half hour. I took another ride on the roller-coaster and said goodbye to as many friends as I could. 
It was nice drive back to Ottawa filled with pitching questionable skit ideas.

OVERALL
​The resort is beautiful and great to wander around. There are tons of activities you can do in the resort for free thanks to getting a badge. There is a plethora of great photoshoot locations. The con has a lot of interesting events happening. I missed out on my free drink and open bar :( but others got to take advantage. there are a lot of food options and the hotel rooms are all great. It is very relaxing. In comparison, Colossalcon is a fun partycon while Yeticon is a laid back party con.

I want to return next year. I just hope they don't put it back to back with Colossalcon!
0 Comments

Anime North 2017

29/5/2017

1 Comment

 

This is @animenorth aka parking lot con pic.twitter.com/bRDdXvbzBf

— Melting Mirror (@MeltingMirror) May 27, 2017
I've been going to this con for more than ten years and sometimes you can get into a funk of "been there, done that" but this year was a blast at Anime North!

First off, it didn't feel as crowded as usual. Secondly, the weather, although overcast and sometime lightly raining, was nice. It wasn't the usual sweaty mess which was a welcome change. Lastly, my schedule was relaxed enough that I had time to spend with friends instead of running around from event to event.

Overall it was a good year. Although I felt as if there were less cosplayers wandering around or at least less crazy impractically big costumes.

I had a great time judging the Friday workmanship contest. I highly recommend it since it is such a short time commitment (under 10 mins).

Most of my weekend was spent hanging out with friends and convincing them to buy Siamurai pants and joining my pants cult. Special thanks to my roomies, carpool buddies, and all the friends who made the weekend a blast. See you next year!

Selfies

Picture
Picture
Photo by Liquid Cocaine Photography

Con Photos

1 Comment

Anime Matsuri 2017

11/4/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Being invited to Anime Matsuri was a dream come true. After hearing so many good things about this event for years and having it on my "to visit" list I finally got to experience it. Everyone was kind and polite which made my first trip to Texas a blast!

Read More
0 Comments

Katsucon 2017

22/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I thoroughly enjoyed Katsu this year. I decided not to push myself too hard and only booked one  shoot per day and left the rest of my schedule open for quick shoots and hanging out with friends. I wasn't able to finish my big showstopper costume (Lilith - Reference here) due to health reasons. In the end it didn't bother me that much. In the past it would have bummed me out for the entire weekend which is an unhealthy habit. Instead I had fun. Here's what happened over the weekend.


Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous

    MeltingMirror's Cosplay Blog

    Learn more about my experiences in the cosplay world, from conventions to photoshoots and everything in between.

    RSS Feed

      Suggestion Box

    Submit

    Categories

    All
    2011
    2012
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2022
    2023
    Aion
    Anime
    Anime Convention
    Anime North
    Artist Alley
    Awards
    Book
    Colossalcon
    Comiccon
    Commission
    Conbravo
    Convention
    Cosplay
    Cosplay History
    Cosplay Trip
    CostumeCon
    Crunchyroll
    Dance
    Dragoncon
    Exhibit
    Fanexpo
    Fashion
    G Anime
    Guest
    Judging
    Katsucon
    Lifestyle
    Makeup
    Masquerade
    Montreal
    Nadeshicon
    Nycc
    Original Design
    Otakon
    Otakuthon
    Ottawa
    Panels
    Photoshoot
    Popexpo
    Prints
    Props
    Retrospective
    Review
    Social Media
    Travel
    Troubleshoot
    Tutorial
    Wigs
    World Cosplay Summit
    Yeticon
    Youmacon

© MeltingMirror. All rights reserved
Picture